Marine toilet



P. H. BURN MARINE TOILET Nov. 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March '7, 1962 M mmv. ma@ A L M P Nov. 3, 1964 P. H. BURN MARINE TOILET Filed March 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

BYMW

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,154,795 MAREQ TLET Philip H. Burn, 2167 Chestnut St., Camp Hiii, Pa. Filed Mar. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 178,171 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 4-77) This invention relates to toilet systems and more particularly to marineatoilet systems for shallow-draft boats, such as small cabin cruisers and the like. The present invention incorporates improvements over the devices disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 29,857, filed May 18, 1960, and issued on March 13, 1962, as Patent No. 3,624,468.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel pressure-flushed toilet system, particularly a pressure-hushed marine-toilet system.

A specific object is to meet the objects of the aforesaid copending application and at the same time to achieve an internal discharge of cleansing water at the upper par-t of the bowl without adding substantially to the complexity of the system.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

FG. 1 is a transverse section through -a toilet system constituting a first embodiment of the invention, the system being shown as installed in a shallow-draft boat;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail of a part of FiG. 1, as viewed from line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 -are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of the inlet-discharge mechanism, FIG. 3 being as viewed in FIG. l, and FIG. 4 being taken along the line 4 4 of FiG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through a second form of the invention;

HG. 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the plane 7 7 of FIG. 6.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates a marinetoilet system comprising a well which may define an upper bowl portion and a lower duct portion `secured at a hole in the bottom of the boat; at the upper part the well may be secured to a seat (above water level) in the boat. A first check-valve means restricts flow so as to facilitate discharge of well contents through the opening in the bottom of the boat; this first check-valve means also resists inilow to rell the well to water level. A second check-valve means in an inflow passage closes to prevent discharge but opens to admit cleansing water for relling the well by way of a nozzle system at the upper part of the bowl.

When it is desired to ilush the well, the toilet cover is rst brought down to air-tight closure position on the well, and with the well thus covered flushing is effected by producing an increase in pressure in the air space above the surface of the water in the well. This increase in air pressure is effective to discharge the contents of the well through the duct and the first check-valve means. ri`he flushing mechanism is such that, after discharge, a negative pressure is created in the air space above the well, so as to induce iiow of water back into the well. The iirst check-valve means prevents this return ow through the discharge duct, but the second check-valve means in the inr'iow passage provides a cleansing action by admitting water to an upper part of the well. This second checkvalve means prevents discharge of air or water through the iniow passage when flushing pressure is appiied.

1n a first form ot this invention, ilushing pressure is de- 3,154,7l5 itatented Nov. 3, 1954 ICC veloped by a bellows mechanism external to the bowl or well. In a second form, the well itself is of flexible compliant material which may be collapsed (to reduce its volume), either manually or through squeezing means consisting of directly or remotely actuated levers and the like.

Referring to FGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings an illustrative form of a novel toilet system is shown installed in a shallow-draft boat. The system here comprises a well 16 vertically disposed between the boat bottom 11 and a shelf or seat 12. rIhe shelf 12 may be a seat or bunk reaching from one side 13 of the boat all or part-way across to the opposite side. rThe well 1@ may be slightly pliable so that it will conform to the slope of the boat bottom and to the dimension from the bottom 11 to the shelf 12, both of which may vary with different installations. Sufficient pliability can be obtained, for instance, by making well 1b or a length of well 1G of a pliable material, such as ilexible rubber or plastic.

The upper portion of the Well 10 is formed las a toilet bowl 14, and the lower portion of the well is a duct 1S, leading from the bowl to an opening 11a in the boat bottom, the lower end of the duct being fastened in watertight connection to the boat bottom. The top of the bowl 14 is round or generally circular and formed with an outwardly bent rim 16 secured against the underside of the shelf 12 by suitable means (not shown). The shelf of course has a similar round or generally circular opening over the bowl and the opening is framed by a toilet seat 17 suitably fastened in place on the shelf. As shown in FG. 1, the toilet seat is provided with a tapered annular chmnel which fits over a ring-shaped retainer 1S, which may be clamped in place by the same means (not shown) which secures iiange 16, the toilet seat 17 being of plastic material having sufiicient pliability to allow it to be sprung over the ring 1S.

A cover 19 for the `opening in the shelf 12 and for the bowl 14 is hinged at 2d to the shelf. The cover 19 also carries a pivoted latch member 22 which can be swung into and out of engagement with a latch keeper 23 carried by the shelf 12. When the cover 19 is latched down in closed position, a gasket 24 on the underside of the cover is an `air-tight engagement with the toilet seat 17.

A first check-valve means 25 is provided near the discharge opening 11a of the well and in the form shown, is a hinged flap having an upper closed position and a lower open position, so that the one-way action of the check-valve is in the direction of discharge of the well contents and of resisting inflow into the well. In FlGS. 3 and 4, the hinge axis is shown at 25a, and spring means 25h loads the valve 25 in the closing direction. 1f desired, bleed means may by-pass the check-valve 25 so as to allow water to slowly seek its level in the bowl and, in the form shown, this bleed means is provided as a small weep hole 25 in the check-valve member 25.

In accordance with the invention, an additional or intl w passage 27 is provided to communicate between the bottom of the boat and an upper region of the well, preferably at the upper part of the air space in the well and just below the seat This inflow passage includes second check-valve means 28, shown as of the ball and socket variety, and devised to resist outward flow from the well to the boat bottom, but to permit inow of Water from the boat bottom up the passage 27.

Both check-valves 25-28 are shown formed in a single separate part 15a of the well to facilitate assembly, but it will be understood that they could equally well be formed as par of the same single well structure. The upper part of the passage 27 communicates with suitable nozzle or spray means which is shown as a circumferentially extending manifold 29 extending around the rim of the seat and having downwardly directed spray openings 3Q for discharge of cleansing water into the well, as

will be described. A screen 31 may be provided at the inlet to inflow passage 27, that is, at the point of connection to opening 11a.

The height of the well 19 exceeds the maximum water line for lthe boat by an adequate amount, so that with atmospheric pressure prevailing at the top of the well, and assuming provision of the weep hole 26, the water from around the boat will normally flow through theY opening 11a in the boatbottom and through the duct 15 into the well, to the same level as the outside water line; the arrangement is also preferably such that the level of the water in the well will not be far above the neck of the toilet bowl, it being appreciated that such seepage flow is slow, being only as permitted by the weep hole 26. The far larger proportion of the bowl volume is above the water surface in the well and provides an air space which is sealed when lthe cover 19 is latched down in closed position.

According to the invention, ushing of the closed Well is made to occur by increasing the air pressure in the toilet bowl above the surface of the water in the well. The increased air pressure is effective to scavenge the well through the duct and the opening 11a, by way of the check-valve in the bottom of the boat. When the air pressure is released and a sub-atmospheric pressure is developed in the well, new water will ilow into the well by way of the second check-valve 23, the inow passage 27, and the discharge opening 3d. When atmospheric pressure is again established in the air space at the top of the well, as when the cover is opened, the weep hole 26 (if provided) will allow only such restricted ow of seepage water as to ultimately establish the water level in the Well to coincide with the external water level for the boat, it being understood that the size of the weep hole is so small as not to interfere with the normal desired action of the second check-valve 28 and inflow passage 27 to permit discharge of cleansing water at the upper part of the well.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the increase in air pressure to effect flushing is provided by an accordiontype of bellows 36 located to one side of the bowl 14 and suspended from the underside of the shelf 12. A flexible air tube 37 has an effective downslope from a hole 32 in the bellows to a hole 33 in the bowl 14, the latter hole still being appreciably higher than the water surface in the well. Any likelihood of water sloshing through the tube 37 into the bellows is minimized by the effective slope of the tube and may be further minimized by a reverse cur-ve in the tube and by a bae 33 over the hole 33 in the bowl. Ballare 38, which appears in front View in FIG. 2 is open at its opposite ends 33a. A small petcock 39 is provided in the bellows to drain off any accumulated moisture.

Connected to the bottom of the bellows is a link 40. A pin 41 projects from the link to be received in one of the holes 42a in a lever 42. The lever 42 is pivotally mounted to the boat side V13, and since the distance between the boat side and the link may vary in different installations, it is preferred to provide a plurality of holes 42a in the lever 42, thereby facilitating assembly. A handle 43` extends vertically of the shelf 12 to the lever 42, a suitable slot being provided in the shelf through which the handle extends above the shelf to accessible position. The portion of the handle above the shelf is preferably shaped as a hand grip large Venough to abut the shelf and to be unable to pass through the slot therein.

Below the shelf 12, the handle 43 has a plurality of holes 43a. By linking lever 42 with various ones of the Vholes 43a, the bottom of the expanded bellows can be adjusted for best operation. Also, the right-hand or free f end of the lever 42 has a plurality of holes 42h, to permit selection of location for a pivot pin 44. The weight of the .parts including link 40, lever 42 and handle 43 tends r to maintain the bellows 36 in expanded condition. However, to insure normal expanded condition for the bellows, a weight such as i5 may be added to the link 40 or a stressed coil spring 46 may be connected between the link and the bottom of the boat. Because it is desired to induce negative pressure in the well after discharge of the well contents, l naturally prefer the employment of positive means such as the weight 45 or coil spring 36 to induce rapid return of the bellows to its normal position, thereby promoting more effective cleansing action upon the return stroke of bellows actuation, as will be understood.

Assuming it is desired to flush the toilet well 10, the cover 19 is moved from open position to air-tight closure position, in which it is latched down by elements 22-23. The handle 43 is then lifted to contract the bellows 36 in a first or flushing stroke of the handle 43, thereby forcing air from the bellows through the tube 37 into the air space in the bowl 14 and above the surface of the water in the well. Since the well is now sealed at the top by the cover 19, the effect of the air rushing from the bellows 36 into the bowl 14 is to raise the air pressure in the bowl high enough above atmospheric pressure to expel the contents of the well through the duct 15 and through the opening 11a and check-valve 25 in the boat bottom. The bellows 36 is of a size to contain a greater volume of air when it is expanded than the volume of water to be expelled from the well, and is preferably of a size comparable to the normal air volume above water level in the well. Y

When the flushing handle 43 is released (or pushed down the bellows re-expands in a second or return stroke of the handle 43, and new water `hows into the well by Way of the check-valve 28 and inow passage 27, thereby promoting a cleansing action for the inner surface of the well. After thus refilling the well, the entire contents may be expelled by a second contraction of the bellows, after which the water level will again rise in the well on the return stroke of the handle 43 and as the bellows expands, the action 4being a repeat of the action first described. Thus, the bowl is cleansed above the natural level of the water, which has particular importance in boats of comparatively shallow draft.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the bowl Sti is flexible enough to collapse and expand so as to lend itself to operation as a bellows for development of flushing air pressure. The bowl 5t? and the duct 51 together form a well mounted (like the well in FIG. 1) between the boat bottom 11 and the shelf 12. Only enough is shown in connection with this second embodiment to distinguish it from the first. Thus, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the lower portion of the duct 51 and its communication with a hole in the boat bottom does not have to be shown, nor are the toilet seat and air-tight seat cover shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, although they are understood to be provided as in the first embodiment (FIG. l).V

Bowl 5ilis pliable enough to be collapsed by a pair of paddle arms 52 when the arms are brought together, and to revert to expanded state when the arms are separated. The arms 52 are pivotally mounted at the rear on a stud 53 depending from the shelf 12. Pivoted to the boat hull is a hand lever 54, the upper end of which projects above the shelf 12 through a slot 12b in the shelf. The intermediate portion 54a of the lever is bifurcated to straddle the rear portion of the paddle arms 52. These are so shaped that their rear portions are in substantial alignment and their forward portions are divergent relative to each other, the forward portions terminating at paddles straddling the bowl 5). A bracket 55 depends from the shelf 12 and is formed with guide slots 56 for the forward portions of the arms 52.

As in the first embodiment, a charge of water will stand in the well. To flush the well, the seat cover (not shown in FIGS. 5 to 7) is brought down to closure position. The hand lever 54 is then moved forwardly against the resistance of a spring 58, forcing the paddle arms 52 together so as to collapse the bowl Si?. The contraction of the bowl develops ushing air pressure, dispelling the well contents through the duct 51 via check-valve 2S. Ideally, the amount of water in the bowl should be substantially less than the amount the bowl can be collapsed. However, if the water should not be completely expelled upon a single contraction of the bowl, the hand lever may be moved back and forth several times, and as a result, the water in the well will be refreshed satisfactorily. An adjustable stop 59 is provided for the forward stroke of the hand lever 54 and it is understood that at each return stroke of the hand lever 54, a negative pressure is developed in the bowl so as to draw via passage 27 and check-valve 2S a supply of cleansing water for admission to the upper part of the bowl in the manner described in connection with FG. 1.

It is to be understood that other means than that shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 may be used, including direct manual pressure applied to the sides of the bowl, for contracting and collapsing the same to develop flushing and subsequent cleansing action.

As a further feature of the bowl shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, relatively stiiily compliant reinforcing or spring members are provided, one above the other, at the region to be collapsed for achieving ushing action. These may be continuous or split steel rings or stili plastic rings ernbedded in the upper part of well 59, the design being such that a relatively strong compliant action assures prompt restoration of the bowl to its original shape to develop the negative pressure required for injection of cleansing water at -the discharge opening 30. As shown in FIG. 7, an enlarged belt Sila of the well Sil is provided with plural grooves or recesses 52-63 to receive the several spring rings tel; preferably, rings 66 in inwardly open recesses 62 are interlaced with the remainder 6l of the rings in outward open recesses, as at 63.

It is to be understood that instead of hand-grasped means for operating the bellows or for collapsing the well in the various forms disclosed, foot-pedal means may be provided and also of course, as noted, particularly in the second embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, a mere manual squeezing of the well may achieve the desired proper action. It is further understood that various changes may be made in the scope of mechanical skill without departing from the invention. it is intended, therefore to be limited only as indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toilet system for a boat, the system including a toilet well, means mounting the well inside the boat to reach from below water line of the boat to a height appreciably above the water line, said well having a normal water level substantially coinciding with the boat water level, thereby delining an air space above water level in the well, iirst duct means connecting the well to an opening in the boat bottom, first check-valve means in said duct means and operative to permit the passage of water from the well for discharge out the bottom of the boat and to resist the inflow of water from beneath the boat into the well, a well cover settable from an open position to an air-tight closure position over the well and over the air space, second duct means communicating with the upper interior of the well and with water at the bottom of the boat and including second check-valve means eective to admit water through a submerged part of the bottom of the boat for discharge at an upper part of said well and to prevent water ow out through the bottom of the boat, pneumatic flushing means for the well comprising a bellows communicating only with the air space, and means for operating the bellows while the cover is in closure position for developing an increase in air pressure in the well above the water level therein to expel the contents ot the well through the iirst duct means and tirst check-valve means into the water around the boat, said last-defined means being further operative to reduce below normal the air pressure in the well after producing said increase, whereby said second check-valve means will be operative to admit water from the bottom of the boat for discharge at the upper part of the well.

2. The system of claim l, in which said first checkvalve means includes a bleed whereby water may naturally seek in the bowl a level determined by said water line and substantially below the top of the bowl.

3. A toilet mounted in a boat and comprising a well rising from the boat bottom to a height above the boat water line, the well having as its upper section a toilet bowl having a lirst duct leading from the bowl to an opening in the boat bottom, said duct having therein first check-valve means eiiective to permit discharge of the bowl contents out the bottom of the boat and to resist inow of water from the bottom of the boat into the bowl, a bowl cover movable when open to closed position, a second duct communicating between water at the bottom of the boat and the upper part of the bowl and including second check-valve means directionally eiiective to resist discharge of water to the bottom of the boat but to permit admission of water to the top of the bowl, and pneumatic-ilushing means for the well including reciprocable means operated in a iirst stroke while the cover is in closed position for increasing above normal air pressure in tne well above the water level therein to a liushing air pressure such as to ush the well through the iirst duct by way of said first check-valve means, the reciprocable means on its return stroke reducing below normal the air pressure in the well to permit closure of said tirst check-valve means and opening said second check-valve means so that fresh water will be admitted into the bowl and discharged at the upper part thereof.

4. The toilet of claim 3, and including bleed means communicating between the bottom of the boat and the water in the bowl above said first check-valve means for allowing a relatively slow seepage of water, said bleed means being effective to permit such slow flow of water as necessary to approach normal water level in the bowl.

5. A toilet system mounted in a boat and comprising a toilet well rising from the boat bottom to a height appreciably above the boat water line and communicating at the lower end with an opening in the boat bottom, said communication including rst check-valve means directionally arranged to open for discharge of the well contents to the bottom of the boat and to close to resist return llow into the weil, bleed means to permit slow seepage of water past the closed check-valve means to restore water level in the bowl, said water level being substantially below the top of the well and normally corresponding to the boat water line, thereby defining an air volume above the water line, a cap for the well settable from an open position to an air-tight well-capping position, passage means communicating between water beneath the bottom of the boat and an upper interior portion of the well and including second check-valve means directionally effective to resist discharge through the bottorn of the boat to the water and opening to admit water for discharge at the upper end of the well, the system incorporating an air-bellows structure communicable only with said air volume and operable while the well is airtight capped for increasing the air pressure in the well to eect flushing of the well contents through said irst checkvalve means at the opening in the boat bottom, said air bellows structure constituting the only flushing mechanism for the system.

6. A toilet system mounted in a boat and comprising a toilet well rising from the boat bottom to a height appreciably above the boat wat-er line and including a iirst passage communicating at the lower end with an opening in the boat bottom, said passage including rst check-valve means directionally effective to facilitate discharge through the bottom of the boat and to resist iuow of water into the well, a cap for the well settable from an open position to an air-tight well capping position,

the upper section of the well above the water level there` in being compliant and collapsible by externally applied pressure for creating while the well is air-tight capped, internal pressure within the well for flushing its contents through said first check-valve means and the opening in the boat bottom, whereby upon restoration of the collapsed well to normal shape, cleansing water will be supplied to the well via said second passage.

7. The construction of claim 6, in which said collapsible part of said Well includes resilient stiiening means, whereby restoration of normal well shape after collapse may be more rapidly effected by the action of said resilient means, thereby enhancing cleansing action in said well.

8. A marine toilet including the combination with a shelf inside the boat to serve as a seat or bunk or the like of a toilet well installe-d between the shelf and an immersion portion that is opened through the boat hull and having a Water level beneath an air space in the well, said shelf including a closure member removably sealed to said well over the air space, first check-valve means below Water level in the well and opening to promote discharge ofwell contents but closing to resist inflow of water in the well, passage means communicating between the bottom of the boat and the upper part of said Welland including second check-valve means effective to oppose discharge of Water through the bottom of the boat but to freely admit water from beneath the bottom of the boat for discharge above water level in the well, saidv well incorporating flexible material above said Water level so as to be compressible, whereby upon compression of said well, said first check-valve means will be elective to discharge the well contents through the bottom and upon release of the compressed well, its normal resiliency will force restoration to its original shape, thus closing said rst check-valve means and opening said second check-valve means to admit Water from the bottom of the boat for discharge above normal water level in said Well. t

9. A toilet system mounted in a boat and comprising a toilet well rising from the boat bottom to a seating height appreciably above the -boat water line and communicating at the lower end with an opening in the boat bottom, said well near the boat bottom inthe line of communication to the boat bottom including rst checkvalve means eective to permit discharge of Well contents out the boat bottom and to resist water inow into the well, passage means communicating from the boat bottom to an upper part of the well and including second check-valve means effective vto resist Water discharge out the bottom of the boat and to facilitate water-inilow for discharge at the upper part of the well, means including a cap for the Well movable from an open position to an air-tight well-capping position thereby defining a well chamber having an upper portion which is closed above Water level, the upper portion of said chamber including externally actuable means for decreasing the capacity of the well chamber for creating while the well is air-tight capped, internal pressure Within the Well for ushing its' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 192,021 Seymour 'June 12, 1877 2,087,663 Cardinal Iuly 20, 1937 3,024,468

Burn Mar. 13, 1962 

3. A TOILET MOUNTED IN A BOAT AND COMPRISING A WELL RISING FROM THE BOAT BOTTOM TO A HEIGHT ABOVE THE BOAT WATER LINE, THE WELL HAVING AS ITS UPPER SECTION A TOILET BOWL HAVING A FIRST DUCT LEADING FROM THE BOWL TO AN OPENING IN THE BOAT BOTTOM, SAID DUCT HAVING THEREIN FIRST CHECK-VALVE MEANS EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT DISCHARGE OF THE BOWL CONTENTS OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT AND TO RESIST INFLOW OF WATER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT INTO THE BOWL, A BOWL COVER MOVABLE WHEN OPEN TO CLOSED POSITION, A SECOND DUCT COMMUNICATING BETWEEN WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT AND THE UPPER PART OF THE BOWL AND INCLUDING SECOND CHECK-VALVE MEANS DIRECTIONALLY EFFECTIVE TO RESIST DISCHARGE OF WATER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT BUT TO PERMIT ADMISSION OF WATER TO THE TOP OF THE BOWL, AND PNEUMATIC-FLUSHING MEANS FOR THE WELL INCLUDING RECIPROCABLE MEANS OPERATED IN A FIRST STROKE WHILE THE COVER IS IN CLOSED POSITION FOR INCREASING ABOVE NORMAL AIR PRESSURE IN THE WELL ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL THEREIN TO A FLUSHING AIR PRESSURE SUCH AS TO FLUSH THE WELL 